Aerobic abdominal flexion exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

A device and method for employing it for conducting aerobic abdominal flexion exercise. A resistance is applied to the thigh portion of the legs of the user such that as the user&#39;s legs are drawn to the user&#39;s torso, the user experiences resistance using such motion that user&#39;s legs move away from the user&#39;s torso, no resistance is applied to said movement.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is involved with a device and method foremploying it for conducting aerobic abdominal flexion exercise. Thedevice is unique in its ability to concentrate the user's aerobicfunction almost entirely through the abdominal muscles to the exclusionof other muscle groups traditionally employed in such diverse exercisesas biking and running.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] There are a number of aerobic activities engaged in by not onlyhealth enthusiasts but also the general public which can result inabdominal flexion exercise. For example, as noted in U.S. Pat. No.4,909,526, various pedal-powered structures such as bicycles employ toelifts which enable a user to exert force upon a bicycle crank not onlyduring the power stroke or downward motion of the user's foot but duringthe upstroke by physically coupling the pedal to the underside of theuser's shoe. Although the purpose for employing toe clips on bicycles isto improve its efficiency by enabling the operator to take fulladvantage of the pedal upstroke, such motion does, in fact, result insome degree of abdominal flexion. However, because the vast majority ofpower exerted by the cyclist is in the downstroke of pedal motion, theamount of aerobic abdominal flexion is minimal.

[0003] Aerobic abdominal flexion exercise is defined as the process ofpreferentially using the abdominal wall and thigh flexors in aerobicexercise. As previously noted, currently, there are no sport or exerciseinstruments or machines that can fulfill such a function. Availableexercise machines allow the user to engage in either aerobic exercisewhile using posterior muscles, such as bicycle or rowing machines orwhich involve anaerobic exercise of the anterior wall musculature suchas by bending against a force while sitting.

[0004] It is the object of the present invention to provide a devicewhich maximizes the effect of the exercise activity on the abdominalwall and thigh flexors to provide aerobic abdominal flexion. These andfarther objects will be readily apparent when considering the followingdisclosure and appended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention is directed to a method of conductingaerobic abdominal flexion exercise and devices for use in carrying outthis method. The method comprises applying a resistance to the thighportion of the legs of a user such that as the user's legs are drawn tothe user's torso, the user experiences resistance opposing such motion,but as the user's legs move away from the user's torso, no resistance isapplied to said movement. Ideally, the resistance experienced by theuser is applied proximate to and above the knees of the user and can beapplied by draping a band of material over each leg which are connectedto the resistance imposed by the exercise apparatus. In its preferredconfiguration, the apparatus can include a bicycle-style seat forsupporting the user and a bar for grasping for support and balance whileengaging in the subject method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first illustrative embodiment ofthe device used for carrying the method of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a partial side plan view illustrating how, in oneembodiment, the device of FIG. 1 operates to accomplish its intendedpurpose.

[0008]FIG. 3 is yet another perspective view of the device useful incarrying out the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] As noted previously, FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of thepresent invention although there are many various configurations whichcould be proposed and described herein for carrying out the presentmethod. By viewing the embodiments such as those shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,it will be quite apparent that other variations could be employed whileremaining within the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0010] Turning again to FIG. 1, user 10 is shown being supported onbicycle-style seat 29. For purposes of support and balance, hands 31 canembrace bar 30 as shown. In this particular configuration, user 10 sitssomewhat upright, akin to the position one would assume while riding abicycle. User's feet 26 can be supported by framework 27, which ispivotable at 28. The entire structure remains stationary by virtue ofsupport 35.

[0011] In operation, bands or straps 24 appended to framework 27 aredraped over a user's leg along the side portion thereof. Ideally, band24 is placed proximate to knee 25 in order to achieve a maximum benefitfrom this device.

[0012] In operation, as user 10 presses down upon framework 27 theuser's leg moves away from the user's torso. During this stroke, littleor no resistance is experienced by user 10. However, as knee 25 of user10 is drawn toward the user's torso, the user's leg pulls upon band 24,turning wheel 21 which applies resistance to such movement. In that user10 is incapable of moving wheel 21 by any downward stroke akin to theplacement of force on a bicycle crank, all movement of wheel 21 isperformed by movement of the user's legs towards the user's torsoresulting in virtually all exercise involving abdominal wall and thighflexors.

[0013] As previously noted, there are a myriad of geometries which couldbe configured to achieve the method of the present invention asdescribed above. FIG. 2 depicts one such geometry.

[0014]FIG. 2A depicts pie-shaped unidirectional locking apparatus 23.FIG. 2A illustrates the state of the apparatus during the upstroke ofthe leg of user 10 whereby strap 24 is shown schematically as is footsupport brace 27. Foot brace 27 engages pie-shaped unidirectionallocking apparatus 23 at rotatable pivots 45. Pie-shaped unidirectionallocking apparatus 23 is actually composed of two pie-shaped segments 33and 25 which are urged towards one another through the use ofelasticized bands 41 and 42. On the inner circumferential wall of outerpie-shaped segment 33 is configured a series of serrations or teeth 49which engage and lock upon complimentary serrations or teeth 22configured within the circumference of wheel 21. As noted, elasticizedbands 41 and 42 urge engagement of teeth 49 with teeth 22 during theupstroke of the user's leg and consequential upward movement of band 24shown schematically in FIG. 2 appended to foot brace 27, the latterfunctionally appended to rotatable shaft 45. As user 10 moves the user'sleg away from the user's torso, strap 24 moves downwardly stretchingbands 41 and 42 and moving pie-shaped segments 25 and 33 away from eachother (FIG. 2B) creating gap 43 therebetween and separating the teeth 22found on the circumference of wheel 21 away from the complementary teeth49 found on pie-shaped outer segment 33. As a consequence, thepie-shaped segment 23 moves past the arc of wheel 21 withoutencountering significant resistance.

[0015] Any suitable resistance means can be configured within orsurrounding shaft 60. Springs or friction-creating contact points can beestablished in order to provide suitable resistance to the user as strap24 is pulled towards the user's torso. As such, the proposed resistancecan be such as to operate only in a single direction although, in lightof the structure shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the one-way nature of suchresistance is not mandatory. In this regard, it should also be notedthat the pie-shaped/toothed, one-way slip mechanism shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B are simply illustrative of one of a myriad of ways in which aone-way resistance device could be configured. Anyone skilled in thisart area could easily propose numerous alternatives to accomplish theresults of practicing the invention as embodied in FIGS. 2A and 2B. Theonly aspect of the present invention that is truly mandatory is toprovide a device which imposes a resistance when a user draws the user'sleg towards the user's torso, but not when the user's leg is moved awayfrom the user's torso.

[0016] In addition, it is also noted that a bicycle-style seat and barsupport mechanism such as that shown in FIG. 1 need not be the onlyconfiguration capable of carrying out the present invention. In thisregard, reference is made to FIG. 3 as being illustrative of one on manyalternative embodiments. In this instance, user 10 is supported bymat-like seat 75 which is fixed in its illustrated location. Strap 70 isapplied over the user's leg and the thigh portion just above knee 72which is, in turn, fixed to sliding-toothed ratchet 73 (right leg) whileband 71 is shown fixed to sliding-toothed ratchet 82 (left leg). Eachratchet is provided with teeth 76 and 77 respectively which engagecomplimentary teeth on the circumferences of wheels 78 and 79.Sliding-toothed ratchets 73 and 82 move along fixed supports 80 and 81respectively. A one-way frictional gear (not shown) is contained withinor proximate to shaft 80. Any suitable one-way clutch or similarfriction-creating device can be employed, the alternatives of whichwould be well appreciated by anyone skilled in this art.

[0017] In operation, as user 10 pulls the user's leg towards the user'sbody, straps 70 and 71, alternatively, cause sliding-toothed ratchets 73and 82 to cause wheels 78 and 79 to move in a clockwise fashionwhereupon friction is imposed upon such movement resulting in therequisite aerobic abdominal flexion exercise sought herein. As theuser's legs are moved away from the user's torso, wheels 78 and 79 movein the opposite direction imposing no resistance upon said movement.

[0018] As is quite apparent, the principle behind the present inventionis to impose preferential aerobic exercise of the anterior and lateralabdominal wall musculature. Although the invention is shown, forillustrative purposes, to consist of some form of knee brace linked to aforced-transfer mechanism so that the user can preferentially engage theabdominal muscle in aerobic exercise, the actual physical structure ofsuch a mechanism may take many different forms such as a chain or rodlinking various braces to paddles or paddle arms or a separateconnection between a knee brace and wheels. In addition, the braces maybe allowed to move medially and laterally, or be attached to the frameof a bicycle-like structure. The bands or braces may also be closed,that is, completely surrounding a knee or partially open to allow theknee to move in and out of the brace. Devices used to carry out thepresent method could be designed to be employed either indoors oroutdoors and use any resistance mechanism useful in engaging theabdominal muscles in aerobic function.

I claim:
 1. A method of conducting aerobic abdominal flexion exercise bya user comprising applying a resistance to the thigh portion of the legsof the user such that as the user's legs are drawn to the user's torso,the user experiences resistance opposing such motion but as the user'slegs move away from the user's torso, substantially no resistance isapplied to said movement.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein saidresistance is applied proximate to and above the knees of the user. 3.The method of claim 1 wherein said resistance is applied by draping astrap of material over each leg of the user, said straps being connectedto said resistance.
 4. The method of claim 1 wherein said user issupported by a bicycle-style seat while engaging in said method.
 5. Themethod of claim 4 wherein said user is provided with a bar for graspingfor support and balance while engaging in said method.
 6. A device forenabling a user to engage in aerobic abdominal flexion exercisecomprising applying a resistance means and connection means forconnecting said resistance means to the thigh portions of the legs ofsaid user such that said resistance means opposes the user's motion indrawing the user's legs to the user's torso but does not oppose movementof the user's legs as they move away from the user's torso.
 7. Thedevice of claim 6 wherein said connection means comprises a strap ofmaterial draped over the thighs of the user proximate to the user'sknees.
 8. The device of claim 6 wherein a bicycle-style seat is providedfor supporting said user.
 9. The device of claim 6 wherein a bar isprovided for grasping for support and balance while the user operatessaid device.
 10. The device of claim 6 wherein said resistance meanscomprises a wheel that applies resistance through said connection meanswhen rotated in a first direction.
 11. The device of claim 10 whereinmovement of said wheel in said first direction is carried out only whena leg of the user is drawn to the user's torso.
 12. The device of claim10 wherein said wheel is provided with teeth along its circumference andsaid connection means is further provided with teeth along a portionthereof whereby as said connection means is pulled toward said user,said teeth engage causing said wheel to rotate providing resistance tosaid user but as said connection means is moved away from said user,said teeth disengage causing said connection means to slip along thecircumference of said wheel without encouraging rotation thereof.